7-Day Bwindi Gorilla Trekking Tour in Uganda

This 7 day Bwindi gorilla trekking safari combines a mountain gorilla trek with chimpanzee tracking and a classic Queen Elizabeth game safari, using domestic flights to cut the longest road days. You trek gorillas in Bwindi, meet the Batwa, drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park for game drives and a Kazinga Channel cruise, then track chimpanzees in Kyambura Gorge before flying back to Entebbe. Both primate permits, park fees, full board and a driver guide are included.

Few trips let you move from a mountain gorilla forest to a savannah park and then to a chimpanzee gorge within one week. Bwindi is cool, damp and full of birdsong, one of Africa's most biodiverse forests and home to a large share of the world's mountain gorillas. Queen Elizabeth opens into wide grassland, and the Kazinga Channel cruise puts you at water level among hippos and crocodiles. Read our Bwindi gorilla trekking guide and where to track chimpanzees in Uganda for background.

The Batwa cultural experience gives the forest a human story, and the Kyambura chimpanzee morning rounds off the trip. See the chimpanzee tracking and game drives pages, and the Uganda destination page.

Moderate overall, with the gorilla trek the hardest part. The Uganda Wildlife Authority asks for moderate fitness and says a trek can take two to seven hours depending on where the family is. Bwindi lies between about 1,160 and 2,607 metres above sea level, with steep ridges, deep valleys and muddy trails. The Batwa visit may involve uneven ground, and Kyambura means climbing down into and back out of a gorge. The boat cruise, game drives and lodge time are easy. Gorilla trekking is open from age 15 and chimpanzee tracking from age 12, and anyone who is ill should not trek. If you have mobility difficulties, tell us before booking.

Uganda is a year-round destination. The dry months, June to September and December to February, give firmer trails and clearer views, while the rainy months bring muddy forest and greener plains. See our best time to visit Bwindi guide, and bring waterproofs whenever you travel.

This trip suits couples, small groups and solo travellers who want a full Uganda primate safari without long road days. For a shorter route see the 5-day gorilla trekking and Queen Elizabeth safari, and for a version that adds Murchison Falls the 10-day Uganda gorilla, wildlife and chimpanzee safari.

Gorilla and chimpanzee permits are limited, so book early. Our gorilla trekking packing list and guide to the Bwindi trekking sectors help you prepare.

If you are also considering Rwanda, see our Signature Journey, the 7-day Rwanda gorilla trekking tour with culture and ReGreen, and the Hundred Trees initiative.